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Incident over a parking violation ticket on March 11 in Batumi town of Georgia turned violent as hundreds of Batumi residents protested what they regard as “harsh” police practice of the local law enforcement agency.

Civil.ge reports that a spontaneous rally broke out mid-day on March 11 demanding the release of two persons who were detained in the earlier incident in Batumi, when locals confronted the patrol police officers over a fine for a car parking violation.

Several hundred protesters, including activists of the United National Movement, gathered in the center of Batumi and blocked the Chavchavadze avenue, the main transport junction in the city.

According to the source, tensions ran high for most of the evening escalating mid-night when riot police moved out of the police station and drove the protesters away using tear gas and rubber bullets, prompting aggressive backlash from the protesters, who tried to storm the police headquarters throwing stones and torching police and civilian vehicles in the surrounding.  The unrest continued for six hours despite calls from Georgian officials for restraint and calm.

President Margvelashvili issued a written statement late night (calling for respect of state institutions and dispatched the National Security Council secretary and the head of the presidential administration to Batumi.

The unrest continued until early morning on March 12, when additional police officers intervened and dispersed the protesters, arresting approximately 40 of them. Local media sources reported that around 30 persons have been injured as a result of the clashes.